LEADING Labour politicians in Worcester have called on the party to unite around new leader Jeremy Corbyn following his landslide victory.
The veteran left-winger won the leadership contest on Saturday (September 12) with a share of nearly 60 per cent of first round votes.
Mike Foster, who was a Labour MP for the city for 13 years, said Mr Corbyn’s key job now was to unite the wide range of views from within the party.
“Jeremy’s job will be to unite the party so all wings are represented; members old and new feel valued and to ensure we appeal to the types of voter who left us in 2010.
“More than most I recognise that democracy doesn’t always deliver the result you want but Jeremy won and we must respect that. I am loyal to the Labour Party to my core and I will be working hard to see it elected in 2020.
However, the former MP warned against past comments made by the new Labour leader that Britain should pull out of NATO and the EU.
“But I will not support policies that damage our country, so our position in NATO and in the EU, are two examples of where I believe Jeremy needs to move to reflect Labour’s mainstream, of which I consider myself one,” he added.
Leader of the Labour group on Worcester City Council, Coun Adrian Gregson welcomed Mr Corbyn’s victory and hopes the party can now move on.
“I welcome the fact that Jeremy has won a resounding mandate across all elements of the Labour Party. This should help in easing divisions over recent months and help us to look forward on a more unfied and pro-active basis.”
Joy Squires, who stood for Labour in Worcester in May’s general election, said she would back Jeremy Corbyn but was disappointed a woman wasn’t appointed Shadow Chancellor.
“Jeremy Corbyn has received the overwhelming endorsement of Labour Party members and supporters and has a very clear mandate to lead the Labour Party. I will unite behind his leadership and will encourage others to do the same.
“I am very pleased that over half of Jeremy’s shadow cabinet are women, though I would have liked to see a woman in the role of Shadow Chancellor- that was a missed opportunity.
“With a manifesto that responds to people’s hopes and aspirations for the future and sets out a clear vision for a fairer society, Labour can win in 2020,” Mrs Squires added.
Mr Corbyn recieved over 251,457 votes in the leadership contest, pushing previous front runner Andy Burnham into second with 80,462, Yvette Cooper in third with 71,928 and Liz Kendall in fourth with just 18,857.
